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ESSENTIAL HEALTH LITERACY (Personal Hygiene: (Patients with female…
ESSENTIAL HEALTH LITERACY
Personal Hygiene:
Patients with female reproductive system conditions should attend to their own self-care.
Females should be encouraged to wash the genitals and perineum daily and whenever necessary due to vaginal discharge that occurs and making sure the area is dried properly.
Patients must be encouraged to wipe front to back after defecation to prevent infection occurring in the vagina.
Patients must be encourage to wash their underwear daily after every use and to not reuse underwear before washing it.
Encourage patients to change their sanitary pads regularly to prevent infections.
Advise patients to use cotton underwear as it prevents irritation.
Nutrition:
Encourage a healthy diet that is balanced with protein, iron, calcium and fibre, to help prevent obesity.
Advice postmenopausal woman to increase their calcium intake to maintain bone structure and fibre to prevent constipation.
Advice woman who are at a child bearing age to eat food that is high in calcium, iron and protein to prevent anaemia .
Encourage woman to drink adequate amounts of water to prevent dehydration and constipation.
Encourage woman to avoid junk food and fatty foods.
Exercise:
Encourage women to exercise regularly to keep fit, prevent obesity and preventing pathology.
Advice patients to do aerobic exercises such as walking, running and swimming to ensure adequate flow of blood throughout the body.
Advice patients to do stretching exercises to prevent joint stiffness and prevent injury.
Breast Self-Examination:
Educate woman on breast self-examinations, to identify lumps early and if cancerous they can be treated early.
Advice woman over the age of 40 years to have a mammogram done every 5 years to help with early diagnosis of cancer.
Sexual Life:
Encourage and emphasise the importance of the use of condoms not only to prevent pregnancy but also to prevent the contraction of sexually transmitted diseases and HIV.
Advice patients that having a monogamous is the best way to prevent the contractions of diseases and infections.
Educate patients about family planning and the importance of regular visits to the clinic.
Medical Care:
Encourage women with persistent vaginal discharge, irregular menstruation, abnormal flow or a lump in the breast must consult a doctor.
Teach women about the female reproductive system so that they are able to identity any problems that may occur.
Encourage women to go for medical evaluations such as pap smears to check for cancer and regular urine and blood tests to exclude urinary tract infection and diabetes mellitus.
Reference:
(Mogotlane, 2013, p.493-494)
(Uptodate.com, 2018)